Traction attachment for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A traction attachment for vehicles which consists of a spoked hub having three or more spokes extending outwardly therefrom and mounted on a center rotatable hub for meshing with obstacles in the terrain. The hub is provided with a sprocket or gear over which a drive chain or actuator is trained extending from an engine. The axis of the spoked hub varies from the horizontal to nearly vertical. In a modified form of the invention a belt is secured to the spoked hub to extend thereabout for improved floatative traction. The spoked hub can be attached to any type of land vehicle, water vehicle or snow and ice vehicles as required.

United States Patent Sesky et al.

[451 Oct. 3, 1972 [22] Filed:

[54] TRACTION ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES Sept. 25, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:75,444

[52] US. Cl ..30l/43, 180/6, 180/8 R, 180/15, 180/16, 280/285, 305/1[51] Int. Cl. ..B60b 15/22 [58] Field of Search ..180/15, 16, 8 F, 6, 7R, 8 R, 180/8 B; 305/1; 301/43, 44 R, 44 A, 44 B; 285/421; 280/285 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,128,128 4/1964 Jines ..301/44 R2,240,261 4/1941 l-lodell ..30l/44 R 1,073,520 9/1913 Rastello ..180/44681,090 8/1901 White ..285/421 UX 1,154,423 9/1915 Mathews ..180/8 F1,692,798 11/ 1928 Potter ..285/421 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS181,790 12/1962 Sweden ..30l/43 Primary Examinerl(enneth H. BettsAssistant Examiner-John P. Silverstrim Att0rneyAlexander B. Blair [57]ABSTRACT A traction attachment for vehicles which consists of a spokedhub having three or more spokes extending outwardly therefrom andmounted on a center rotatable hub for meshing with obstacles in theterrain. The hub is provided with a sprocket or gear over which a drivechain or actuator is trained extending from an engine. The axis of thespoked hub varies from the horizontal to nearly vertical. In a modifiedform of the invention a belt is secured to the spoked hub to extendthereabout for improved floatative tractionv The spoked hub can beattached to any type of land vehicle, water vehicle or snow and icevehicles as required.

7 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnm 3 e912 SHEET l 0F 5 INVENTORS.

TTORNEY.

JUL/U5 SESKY Omens J. CLA 2K BY I PATENTEDuma I972 3,695 727 sum 5 0r 5INVENTORS.

JUL/us SESKY by CHARLES J.CL A/2K BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field ofthe Invention The present invention relates to traction increasingattachments for vehicles and particular to such devices which areindependently driven. Summary of the Invention A driven spoked hub ismounted on a vehicle for rotation about a pivot varying from thehorizontal to nearly vertical pivot with the spoked hub being adapted tobe provided with a belt for increased tractive efford.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a traction increasingdrive attachment for vehicles which can be used with land, water andsnow .or ice vehicles for traveling over and obtaining traction withrelatively rough terrain.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of theinvention shown partially broken away and in section for convenience ofillustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. Ilooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG.2 looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away forconvenience of illustration;

F IG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.1 looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away forconvenience of illustration;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the drive belt used with the invention of FIG.1;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line8--8 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the attachment of theinvention to a vehicle;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the engagement of theinvention with the terrain;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view shown partially broken away and in sectionfor convenience of illustration of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in FIG. 11 withparts broken away and in section for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG.12 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 14l4 of FIG.12 looking in the direction of the arrows;

F IG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line15-15 of FIG. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a vehicle having the invention asillustrated in FIG. 1 attached thereto;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side elevation of another vehicle having the invention asillustrated in FIG. 1 attached thereto;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing the wheel drive member inretracted position;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a vehicle showing the modified form of theinvention as illustrated in FIG. 1 1 attached thereto; and

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsin detail wherein like reference characters indicate like partsthroughout the several figures the reference numeral indicates generallya traction increasing member constructed in accordance with theinvention.

The member 30 includes a convoluted hub 31 having a central opening 32formed therein. The hub 31 is adapted to be mounted on an axle carrieddrum 32 by means of a plurality of stud bolts 33 which extend throughbores 34 in the hub 31. A toothed sprocket or ring gear 35 is secured tothe inner face of the hub 31 with a spacer 36 mounted therebetween.

Three or more spokes indicated generally at 37 are secured to the hub 31in equi-spaced radially outwardly projecting form. The spokes 37 includea tapered channel member .38 welded to the hub 31 at its inner end andhaving a cover plate 39 welded thereto to form a socket. A spoke socketcollar 40 surrounds each of the spoke sockets formed by the channelmembers 38 and cover plates 39 to prevent spliting out of the spokesocket.

A wedged fluke plate 41 extends to mate with the wedged spoke socket,the pair of wedge plates 42, 43 are thus integrally mounted in the spokesocket to bind the wedged fluke plate 41 therein. A bolt 44 extendsthrough the spoke 37, the fluke plate 41 and wedge plates 42, 43 as canbe seen in FIG. 2 to lock them together.

Each of the fluke plates 41 have a pair of laterally extending flukes 45integrally secured thereon with a radial fluke 46 integrally securedthereto and extending radially outwardly therefrom. A carbide tip 47 isdetachably secured to each of the flukes 45, 46 for reasons to beassigned. A socket 48 is integrally secured to the fluke plate 41 andextends horizontally outwardly therefrom. A shaft 49 having a head 49"is detachably secured in the socket 48 by means of a pin I 50 projectingtherethrough. A pair of retainer washers 51 are mounted on the shaft 49to support a belt 52 therebetween. A pocket forming member 53 is securedto the belt 52 by means of rivets 54 and the shaft 49 extends throughthe pocket formed thereby.

Spaced annular cleats 55 are secured to the belt 52 on opposite sidesthereof to splice the belt 52 and provide extra traction.

The traction device 30 may be mounted on any vehicle as a replacementfor, or additionally mounted thereto on any one of the conventionaltractive wheels of the vehicle or as an auxiliary driving devicecompletely independent of the normal supporting or tractive wheels ofthe vehicle. In the latter case the sprocket or ring gear 35 is used toprovide a chain or otherwise actuated drive for the device and it may beraised and lowered by any suitable means to function as required. Thebelt 52 and the shafts 49 may be used in some terrains and in otherswould be completely removed as unnecessary. The spoke sockets each havea stop plate 56 in the bottom thereof to assist in aligning the flukeplates 41 at radially outwardly equispaced locations. The carbide tips47 prevent undo wear on the fluke plate 41 and are replaced as worn toinsure the traction of the device 30. FIG. 9 illustrated one angularmounting of the device 30 when using to drive a vehicle 56. FIG. 10illustrated the grip that the device 30 obtains when traveling overrough terrain.

FIGS. 16 and 17. illustrate another form of the vehicle 57 with thedevice 30 mounted thereon.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate still another form of vehicle 58 with thedevice 30 mounted thereon. FIG. 18 illustrates the device 30 in loweredoperative position and FIG. 19 illustrates the device 30 in raisedinoperative position.

FIGS. 1 1 through illustrate a modified form of the invention wherein acentral hub 60 has a sprocket or ring gear 61 secured thereto butseparated therefrom by a spacer 62. A plurality of spoke socket members63 are secured to the hub 60 and extend radially outwardly therefrom. Awedge plate 64 extends into the socket 63 and a second wedge plate 65welded therein binds the wedge plate 64 tightly in the socket 63. A bolt66 extends through the wedge plate 64 the wedge plate 65 to secure themin the sockets 63. A stop plate 67 is mounted in the inner end of thesockets 63 to align the wedge plate 64 thereon. A second socket member68 is rigidly secured to the wedge plate 64 and is adapted to receive aspring bar 69 which is rigidly secured therein. A socket member 70 isrigidly secured to the opposite end of the spring bar 69 and has a flukeplate 71 rigidly secured thereto. A fluke 72 on the fluke plate 71 has acarbide tip 73 detachably secured thereto.

An eye 74 is secured to the socket 70 and an eye 75 is secured to thesocket 68. A steel cable 76 extends between and connects the eye 74, 75to secure the socket 70 to the socket 68 should the spring bar 69 break,to prevent the socket 70 and the carbide tip 73 from being dangerouslyprojected into the air. The modified unit illustrated in FIGS. 11through 15 is particularly adapted for a nearly horizontal mounting on avehicle 77 as illustrated in FIGS. and 21. The hubs 60 are secured to anearly vertical axle 78 carried by swinging arms 79 on the vehicle 77.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 15 providesnot only an improved cushioning traction drive device but also assist insupporting the vehicle of moderate weight for rough terrain transport.The traction increasing attachments of the instant invention aredesigned to provide an improved primary or assisting traction forvehicles that owing to environmental conditions on land, snow, ice, orwater require more efficient traction then the presently manufactureddevices available on the market. The attachments when installed willgive highly positive traction for vehicles whereever they are used. Theinstallation can be at any point on the vehicle front, rear, or on thelateral sides thereof. The attachment will enable vehicles to fordstreams, travel within deep or shallow streams cross mountainousterrain, cross lakes, bogs, snow, glaciers, ice, sand, mud and streamscontaining boulders.

The attachment otTers fundamental tractional advantages and high powercouplings to terrain which accrue from the leverage of and theintermeshing of the spoke members to the terrain contours and obstacles.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A traction attachment for vehicles comprising a hub, means forsecuring said hub to a vehicle, a plurality of spoked sockets secured tosaid hub in circumferentially equispaced relation and projectingradially outwardly therefrom, a fluke plate mounted in said socket anddetachably secured thereto, at least one fluke formed on the radialouter end of said fluke plate a carbide tip detachably mounted in saidfluke for engagement with the ground, a plurality of shafts, meansmounting one of said shafts to each of said fluke plates in horizontallyextending relation, and a flexible traction increasing belt trained oversaid shafts.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair of integral wedgesengage said fluke plate in said socket to bind said fluke plate in saidsocket.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a bolt extends through saidsocket, said fluke plate and said wedges to lock them together.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is detachablysecured to a ground vehicle.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is detachablysecured to a snow vehicle.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is detachablysecured to a water vehicle.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of pockets oneach of said belts with said shafts received in said pockets.

1. A traction attachment for vehicles comprising a hub, means forsecuring said hub to a vehicle, a plurality of spoked sockets secured tosaid hub in circumferentially equispaced relation and projectingradially outwardly therefrom, a fluke plate mounted in said socket anddetachably secured thereto, at least one fluke formed on the radialouter end of said fluke plate a carbide tip detachably mounted in saidfluke for engagement with the ground, a plurality of shafts, meansmounting one of said shafts to eaCh of said fluke plates in horizontallyextending relation, and a flexible traction increasing belt trained oversaid shafts.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair ofintegral wedges engage said fluke plate in said socket to bind saidfluke plate in said socket.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein abolt extends through said socket, said fluke plate and said wedges tolock them together.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unitis detachably secured to a ground vehicle.
 5. A device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said unit is detachably secured to a snow vehicle.
 6. Adevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unit is detachably secured toa water vehicle.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a pluralityof pockets on each of said belts with said shafts received in saidpockets.